Velocity load harness

ABSTRACT

A velocity load belt that includes a waist belt to be worn around a user&#39;s waist, a stirrup to be worn on the user&#39;s foot, and first and second elastic filaments attachable to the waist belt and the stirrup, and when so attached, the first elastic filament extends from a middle of the back of the user&#39;s waist to the inside of the user&#39;s ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is coupled, and the second elastic filament extends across the front of the user&#39;s leg and to the outside of the ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is releasably coupled.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present disclosure pertains to devices designed to aid in physical conditioning, physical therapy, rehabilitation, performance, and, more particularly, to a training aid worn on the body with a waist band and at least one elastic band attached to the user's lower leg.

Description of the Related Art

Those undergoing physical conditioning, rehabilitation, and users who participate in sports such as baseball, hockey, football, softball, fitness, golf, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, boxing, MMA fighting, martial arts, kickboxing, snowboarding, skiing, fitness, biking, rollerblading, skating, motocross, dirt biking, ATV riding, rowing, and track and field related sports consistently experience movement deficiencies within their linear, rotational, or linear-to-rotational movement planes. Any “linear-to-rotational” sport that requires the user to create (or start) with a linear movement of the back hip, knee, leg, or foot that is followed by a rotational movement of the hips, or opening up of the hips, upper half, or trunk can experience these deficiencies. This is due to inefficiencies within energy transfers between the lower and upper halves, or deficiencies in energy creation(s) by the user, or both.

For example, athletes transfer energy by pushing in a linear movement path with their back hip, back leg, or back foot. (“Back” meaning the hip, leg, or foot that is positioned behind the torso when the athlete is standing.) This is known as a linear drive. Such a move generates a Ground Reaction Force (GRF). GRF is increased with more pushing force from the user, which increases forward momentum of the lower half of the torso.

To change direction of the movement (created by GRF), the individual must plant their front foot firmly into the ground. This front foot strike (FFS) follows the linear movement of the back hip, back foot, or back leg and is crucial to changing the rate of energy transfer and directional efficiency into the rotational movement of the hips, trunk, or upper half, or any combination of the foregoing.

In all individuals, the timing and synchronizing of the FFS in relationship to the tempo and speed of linear-to-rotational movements (by the individual) is what determines energy transfer efficiencies within the individual's kinetic chain reaction (KCR).

If the individual is early or late with starting their rotational movement in relationship to linear drive, energy will be dissipated or lost—resulting in reduced physical or athletic performance, e.g., movement execution. The synchronizing, timing, tempo, and rhythm between linear drive, GRF, FFS, and rotational movements play heavily in determining movement efficiency, energy transfer efficiency, and physical or athletic performance and execution rates.

The aforementioned is the most difficult part to train and overcome in physical conditioning and rehabilitation in the specified sports, and it is the major cause of reduced physical and athletic performance and execution. Thus far, nothing in the market trains for optimization, enhancement, or correction of the above.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present disclosure pertains to a velocity load harness that facilitates equal and opposite reactions within energy transfers in any kinetic energy chain reaction of the user's body. This optimizes movement within the physiological and athletic movement planes of linear, rotational, and linear-to-rotational movement, and synchronizing of any such moves.

If counterbalancing of forces or movement planes occurs, the result is a synchronized or “synced” linear-to-rotational movement that counterbalances both lower and upper half force and acceleration. The harness yields an unlocking of previously locked velocity, power, and speed, and support thereof, that is maximized into the ball or other objects used in sports, exercise, performance, or human movement.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus is provided to be worn on the waist and foot of a user as a batting aid for the sport of baseball, the apparatus including a waist belt sized and shaped to be worn around the user's waist, a stirrup sized and shaped to be releasably worn on the user's foot, a first elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup, and a second elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the waist belt has a first attachment point and a second attachment point, and the stirrup has a first attachment point and a second attachment point, and the first elastic filament has its first end attachable to the first attachment point on the waist belt and its second end attachable to the first attachment point on the stirrup so that the first elastic filament is positioned to extend from the middle of the back of the user's waist to the inside of the user's ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is worn, and the second elastic filament has its first end attachable to the second attachment point on the waist belt and its second end attachable to the second attachment point on the stirrup so that the second elastic filament is positioned to extend across the front of the user's leg and down to the outside of the ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is releasably coupled.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus includes a thigh strap having an attachment point with a ring sized and shaped to be worn on the user's thigh and to receive the second elastic filament in slidable engagement.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a method of using an apparatus is provided, the apparatus includes a waist belt sized and shaped to be worn around a user's waist, a stirrup sized and shaped to be releasably coupled to a user's foot, a first elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup, and a second elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup. The method includes attaching the waist belt to a user's waist and releasably coupling the stirrup to the user's foot so that the first elastic filament extends from a middle of the user's waist to the inside of the user's ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is coupled, and the second elastic filament extends across the front of the user's leg and to the outside of the ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is releasably coupled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be more readily appreciated as the same become better understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a velocity load harness formed in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of the velocity load harness of FIG. 1 as worn by a user; and

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration of a thigh strap formed in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed implementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognize that implementations may be practiced without one or more of these specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures or components or both associated with the use of athletic equipment, balls such as baseballs, tennis balls, footballs, basketballs, as well as bungee style elastic cords and the like have not been shown or described in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the implementations.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims that follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open inclusive sense, that is, as “including, but not limited to.” The foregoing applies equally to the words “including” and “having.”

Reference throughout this description to “one implementation” or “an implementation” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the implementation is included in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one implementation” or “in an implementation” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more implementations.

By way of general description, the present disclosure is directed to a velocity load harness 10 that includes a waist belt 12, a foot strap or stirrup 14, an optional thigh strap 16, and a pair of resistance flexible elastic filaments or cords 18, 20. These components operate as one unit that maximizes kinetic energy or energy flow within any linear or rotational movement of athletic activity by the user. In other words, speed, velocity, and power, and the support thereof of the user (such as a patient or an athlete) are increased. The final result is, for example, a ball that is hit or thrown harder or further, or a better movement efficiency that supports the body. Thus, execution rate and performance increases.

The waist belt 12 is sized and shaped to fit around the user's waist and to be positioned immediately above and adjacent to the user's hip joints. It is preferably constructed of heavy nylon or vinyl strapping, and it includes padding 22 on the inside to provide comfort to the user when worn during activity. The waist belt 12 has up to three D-rings 24 sewn into the waist belt strapping to secure them in place and ensure they do not move when the elastic filaments, in this case resistance bungee cord(s) 18, 20, are attached to them. The waist belt 12 is secured to the athlete's waist with hook and loop fasteners 26, 28 and is counterbalanced with a rectangle D-ring 29. For added security, the waist belt 12 can feature a security buckle that clips to a mating component to secure the waist belt to itself and to the user.

The foot strap or stirrup 14 is releasably coupled to a user's foot. In one implementation, it is placed over the shoe. It is constructed of heavy nylon or vinyl strapping. It includes a stirrup portion 15 and an ankle strap 17 with two D-rings 30, 32 that the resistance bungee cords 18, 20 attach to with fittings. There is a rectangle D-ring 34 that is used to secure the ankle strap 17 to the ankle above the foot. Additionally, the foot strap or stirrup 14 is secured with hook and loop fasteners 36, 38.

The optional thigh strap 16 is worn around the user's thigh and is optional. It is not needed, but is used to concentrate resistance intensity of the resistance bungee cords along the back hip and back leg. It is constructed of heavy nylon or vinyl and secures to the thigh with hook and loop. It includes a D-ring the strap will be secured through and it includes padding on the inside of the strap to provide comfort to the athlete, as described more fully below.

The flexible elastic filaments or resistance cords 18, 20 are constructed of silicone or rubber or other elastic materials that have elastic properties. These can be traditional bungee style cords if desired. They have various pound ratings (20 pounds to 110 lbs.) of resistance and provide uniform resistance along their entire static (unstretched) and dynamic or fully stretched out positions. The level of resistance is selected to meet the particular weight, height, or strength requirements, or any combination of the foregoing, of the user. The resistance cords 18, 20 can be covered with safety fabric to protect the athlete in the event of breakage. This fabric is preferably constructed of nylon, cotton, or vinyl. Each resistance cord 18, 20 has opposing first and second ends 40, 42, 44, 46, respectively, with an attachment in the form of a carabiner or clip 48 that is made of metal located at each of the first and second ends 40, 42, 44, 46. It is to be understood that other forms of releasable connection can be used that are readily commercially available and will not be described in detail herein.

In use, a user 11 puts on the velocity load harness 10 by positioning the waist belt 12 above the hip joints as shown in FIG. 2 and securing it in place with the fasteners as describe above. The waist belt 12 is placed around the user's waist to position the D-rings 24, 25 nearest the user's leg 45 that will be located in back, i.e., to the rear of the user's other leg 47 when standing. The stirrup 14 is placed over the user's foot that will be behind the other foot when the user is standing and ready to perform. For example, a right-handed batter standing at a plate will have the batter's right foot be positioned behind or in back of the left foot. Hence, the stirrup would be placed on the right foot for this particular use of the harness 10.

In addition, the first resistance cord 18 will have its first end 40 attached to the first attachment point or D-ring 24 on the waist belt 12 and the second end 44 attached to a first attachment point 30 on the stirrup 14. When so attached, the first elastic filament or resistance cord 18 will be positioned vertically down the user's back hip 49 (the user's right hip as shown in FIG. 2), and contour around the outside of the back leg when the user is standing, as shown in FIG. 2. As discussed above, “back hip” and “back leg” mean the hip, leg, or ankle that is positioned behind the other more forward leg, hip, or ankle, respectively. When so attached the first resistance cord 18 will be positioned to run vertically from the back of the waist, such as the middle of the waist, to the stirrup 14 at the back of the foot, and will attach to the first attachment point or D-ring 30 located on the inside of the ankle of the back foot to which the stirrup 14 is releasably coupled. Here, “inside” means the tibia or medial side of the ankle or foot, which faces the other ankle or foot.

The second flexible filament or resistance cord 20 will have its first end 42 attached to the second attachment point or D-ring 25 on the waist belt and its second end 46 attached to a second attachment point 32 on the stirrup 14. The first resistance cord 18 may also be placed through the D-ring 60 in slidable engagement on the optional thigh strap 16 and then be attached to the D-ring 48 on the stirrup 14 to be positioned on the lateral or outside area of the ankle on the back foot 51 to which the stirrup 14 is coupled or worn.

FIG. 3 illustrates the optional thigh strap 16 having a first end 52 and second end 54 with a loop 56 formed on the first end 52. The second end 54 of the thigh strap 16 is placed through the loop 56 and folded back on itself and secured in place using hook-and-loop fastener 58. It is to be understood that other forms of fasteners may be used such as snaps, buttons, zipper, clasps, and the like. Also shown is an attachment point in the form of a metal ring 60 sized and shaped to receive the clip 48 on the resistance cords 18, 20 for removable attachment. The loop 56 and ring 60 may be formed of metal, nylon, or plastic and may be rigid or flexible, such as a flexible filament or strap. The thigh strap 16 would be attached to the thigh area 53 of the back leg 50 and then utilized as described above.

The velocity load harness 10 and its attachments can be worn and used in two different ways. For linear movement training, the user will use the velocity load harness 10 as described above in conjunction with FIG. 2. For rotational movement training, the user will position all components opposite to what is described above in conjunction with FIG. 2, as will be described more fully below.

In a rotational movement training phase, the waist belt 12 will be positioned above the hip joints and the D-rings 24, 25 will be positioned over the front hip (i.e., the hip of the leg that is in front of the other leg when the user is standing) and back of waist. One resistance bungee cord will be attached to the waist belt D-ring and run vertically down the front leg and be attached to the front foot strap that is placed on the front foot. It will also be inserted through the thigh strap. The other bungee cord will be attached to the D-ring (on the waist belt) that is positioned in the middle of waist. This bungee will run vertically down to the front foot and be attached to the foot strap that is located on the front foot.

Each component in combination and used together will maximize athletic performance and human movement, and support thereof, for any linear or rotational movement. The elastic pound rating of the resistance bungee cords 18, 20 is important to the overall function and design of the harness. The foot strap or stirrup 14 is specifically designed to have two D-rings 30, 32 located on the inside and outside of the foot.

The harness 10 is a functioning unit that incorporates many different parts to bring together a complete training aid for athletic movement enhancement—all of which requires special resistance bungee cords with pound ratings of 20 to 110 pounds.

Referring FIG. 2, in a linear drive training phase, when the user puts on the velocity load harness 10, their back leg 50 is pulled upwards and backwards by the resistance bands or cords 18, 20.

This causes physiological motor patterning to resist these uncomfortable stimuli, known as a ‘sensory overload.’ According to kinesiology, physiology, and neurology, every human body is pre-programmed to remain balanced when in motion. Any outside stimulus that potentially creates an imbalance, disproportion, or energy overload will impact balancing requirements. This causes a neurological response that causes the body to move back into balance or away from potential harm.

This can be seen when a person touches something hot and their hand pulls away quickly or when a doctor hits a person's funny bone and the knee or elbow jerks subconsciously. These are examples of how the brain protects the body against any outside stimulus that could affect balance or energy loads within any kinetic chain reaction (KCR).

Basically, the brain is receiving negative sensory feedback and will subconsciously and consciously redirect the body back into balance, or away from the stimulus, to reduce bodily harm or increase movement efficiency, or both.

Because the velocity load harness' resistance bungee cords 18, 20 are pulling the back foot 51 and leg 50 backwards and upwards, the user will automatically try to keep their back foot 51 on the ground more so—resulting in increased GRF. This retroactively increases acceleration and applied force of the back hip, back leg, back knee, and back foot because the user 11 is pushing harder into the ground with their back side.

According to Newton's three Laws of Motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Since the user is pushing harder into the ground to counteract the negative sensory overload, this pushes the user forward quicker and faster—peaking linear drive and energy creation requirements of such.

In doing so, the user's brain will experience an unsupported upper half because the lower half is being pushed forward at a quicker rate than the upper half. The result is a redirection of counterbalancing and the brain will redirect the upper half to move backwards and be centered over the back hip of the user.

This repositioning of the upper half is what is required to peak linear movement, rotational torque, and syncing of linear-to-rotation, and support thereof, and can only be attained through sensory, mechanical training, movement training, or motor patterning retraining, or any combination of the foregoing—all of which the velocity load harness 10 accomplishes.

By moving the center of counterbalancing over the back hip, users can effectively peak their “linear-to-rotational” movements and syncing of such.

Once the foot strike occurs (after linear movement), the hips must rotate. But this rotation of the hips oftentimes is premature because the upper half is not supported (or balanced) over the back hip.

The velocity load harness 10 retrains motor patterning to sync the front foot strike to the back hip linear drive, creating a syncing and timing efficiency within any linear-to-rotational movements. This optimizes power, speed, and velocity into the ball or other object—resulting in maximized physical or athletic performance, and support thereof.

The velocity load harness 10 is designed to provide sensory feedback if movement is not peaked. If the user does not counterbalance properly over the back hip, their back foot will be pulled upwards and backwards—resulting in a negative sensory overload that is not conducive to athletic execution.

If the user does not synchronize the front foot strike to the back hip linear drive, the result is again a negative sensory overload that is not conducive to execution.

In both cases described above, muscle motor patterning will change subconsciously because the brain is receiving negative sensory feedback with regard to balancing from the resistance bungees. Thus, the brain will subconsciously redirect motor patterning to balance the body against the resistance bands force—resulting in maximized and peaked movement. This increases power, speed, and velocity, and support thereof, instantly.

Users want explosive energy into the ball or other object—not just energy. And this is why the velocity load harness is the world's first training aid that creates balanced force by maximizing linear and rotational movement planes to be proportionate and balanced in both how they move energy and sync it throughout any kinetic chain reaction.

Most users never reach their true performance and execution potential because their movement is not peaked during athletic performance.

Users and the market address all the above through video analysis, mechanical training, repetitive training, visual training, biomechanical analysis, weighted ball training, overload and underload training, physical therapy, and more. All of these have limited results because the user does not personally possess the physiological motor patterning required to peak movement. They can only attempt to gain peak movements with increased knowledge, but must actually do it themselves. No trainer or training aid has been able to give the sensory feedback towards motor patterning in order to accurately correct the above issue(s).

However, the velocity load harness 10 of the present disclosure is a unique training system that provides the necessary motor patterning and sensory feedback to the user—whether peaking movement or being inefficient in such.

The main reason is that any linear-to-rotational movement requires sensory feedback and motor patterning than that previously experienced to what is being taught. Since athletes are trying to learn or gain optimized movement (to peak athletic performance or execution), they have never experienced the proper sensory feedback that trains motor patterning to optimize athletic movement. Thus, they can only consciously force and retrain through visual, oral, or audio training techniques.

This sensory feedback is the missing component for users. There exists a wealth of knowledge and training methods that explain and educate users upon what it takes to peak movement, but nothing exists on the market today that actually causes the user feel efficient and deficient movements with each repetition.

The popular belief as to why users understand, but cannot peak their athletic movements or performance(s), is that the body is too weak to move energy efficiently or is not athletic enough. Thus, users seek out trainers, training methods, and training aids to assist with the aforementioned. However, these training avenues cannot actually force the user to move their body properly—resulting in a “disconnect” between training avenue and peaked athletic performance or execution.

According to the physics principles—the Bernstein and SAID Principles, if the brain has not experienced an activity or movement, it does not have any prior knowledge or memory of such to move the body properly. Basically, the brain must have previously experienced a stimulus in order to know what to expect and how to direct the body. This is why practice is crucial to any user's performance, and how the user practices will reinforce how the user performs.

Another contributing factor is pace of game or pace of movement. The faster the brain is required to comprehend, the more deficient the user's movements will become—resulting in reduced athletic performance, movement, or execution.

Basically, every problem solving or solution is left up to the athlete to have knowledge of, compute, and execute on their own and with their own feel within the linear or rotational movement.

The velocity load harness 10 creates equal and opposite reactions within energy transfers in any kinetic chain reaction of the user. This optimizes requirements to move efficiently within the athletic or human movement planes of linear, rotational, and linear-to-rotational movement, and the syncing of any such moves.

If counterbalancing of energy or movement planes is equal and opposite, the result is a synced linear-to-rotational movement that counterbalances both lower and upper half force and acceleration. This results in an unlocking of previously locked velocity, power, and speed, and support thereof, that is maximized into the ball or human movement.

It is to be understood that various changes can be made to the disclosed implementations in light of the above-detailed description. For example, rings other than D-shaped rings can be used for attachment as can other fastening devices that are well-known to those of skill in this technology. In general, in the following claims the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific implementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible implementations along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure. 

1. An apparatus to be worn on the waist and foot of a user as a batting aid for the sport of baseball, the apparatus comprising: a waist belt sized and shaped to be worn around the user's waist; a stirrup sized and shaped to be releasably worn on the user's foot; a first elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup; and a second elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the waist belt has a first attachment point and a second attachment point, and the stirrup has a first attachment point and a second attachment point, and the first elastic filament has its first end attachable to the first attachment point on the waist belt and its second end attachable to the first attachment point on the stirrup so that the first elastic filament is positioned to extend from the middle of the back of the user's waist to the inside of the user's ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is worn, and the second elastic filament has its first end attachable to the second attachment point on the waist belt and its second end attachable to the second attachment point on the stirrup so that the second elastic filament is positioned to extend across the front of the user's leg and down to the outside of the ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is releasably coupled.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a thigh strap having an attachment point with a ring sized and shaped to be worn on the user's thigh and to receive the second elastic filament in slidable engagement.
 4. A method of using an apparatus that includes a waist belt sized and shaped to be worn around a user's waist, a stirrup sized and shaped to be releasably coupled to a user's foot, a first elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup, and a second elastic filament having a first end and a second end, the first end attachable to the waist belt and the second end attachable to the stirrup, the method comprising: attaching the waist belt to a user's waist and releasably coupling the stirrup to the user's foot; and attaching the first and second elastic filaments to the waist belt and to the stirrup so that the first elastic filament extends from a middle of the back of the user's waist to the inside of the user's ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is coupled, and the second elastic filament extends across the front of the user's leg and to the outside of the ankle of the foot to which the stirrup is releasably coupled.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising attaching a thigh strap to the user's thigh of the leg having the foot with the stirrup and running the second elastic filament through a slidable attachment point on the thigh strap. 